Sash balance



mm M 1 5 5 J P r 0 T M m May 13, 1952 w. P. KESSLER SASH BALANCE Filed July 29, 1947 Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE SASH BALANCE Ward P. Kessler, near Bristol, Ind., assignor to Victor M. Langsett, Chicago, 111., as trustee Application July 29, 1947, Serial No. 764,402

6 Claims.

In double hung sash. it is common practice to usecounter-balances to offset the weight of the sash, and where spring balances are used, they are generally applied or installed without the perimeter of the window frame, for example, resting on the top member of the frame. This requires special treatment of the adjoining wall construction to accommodate the balances, and makes access difiicult after installation of the window has been completed. My invention relates to improved methods of installing a spring balance within the perimeter of the window frame, where the upper sash is fixed, directly over the sash track, resulting in reduction of friction and wear upon the balance tape, permitting ready access for repair or replacement, and making special treatment of the adjoining wall construction unnecessary. The window frame and sash are preferably made of formed metal or metal alloy by extrusion.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the inner, upper-right hand corner of a formed metal window frame, with fixed upper sash, showing the spring balance in position and the face strip and sash guide and movable lower sash shown in part only.

Figure 2 is a side view of a portion of the face strip and sash guide showing the sash guide cut away to accommodate the balance.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a cover plate used as another means of holding the balance in position.

The complete window has not been shown in the drawings, but from common knowledge and as indicated by the drawings, it is obvious that it consists of a frame, a fixed upper sash, and a vertically movable double hung lower sash.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a formed main frame I with a plurality of angularly disposed walls, hereinafter called frame surfaces, including the frame surfaces 2, 3, 4, 5, B, I, 8 and 9, a plurality of obstrusions, including the obtrusions [0, ll, l2 and I3, and a plurality of channels, both L and U-shaped, including the L-shaped channels [4 and I5, is fabricated, preferably of extruded aluminum. The side and top members of the frame are joined at the corners, as at 22, by mechanical means, brazing or other suitable means. The glass 16 in the fixed upper sash formed by the main frame, abuts against the obtrusions I and II on the frame surface 6 and obtrusions I2 and i3 on the frame surface I, and is held in place and weather proofed by the putty H. A portion of the frame surface 4 is removed commencing with its end contacting the frame surface 3 for a distance substantially equal to the height of the balance, as shown at 18, forming the recess I 9. A standard spring balance 20 is inserted into this recess l9, one end side 2| abutting against the inner face of the frame surface 8, its bottom side 23 resting on the end 24 of the frame surface 4 and its sides 25 and 26, abutting against the inner faces of the frame surfaces 6 and 2, respectively, the balance tape 21 being attached to the upper right hand corner of the movable lower sash 43, by any suitable means, such as the screw 34. The balance tape 21 is hidden from view by the face strip 28. This formed face strip 28 has an inturned leg 29 serving as a guide for the lower sash and the lip 30, which conforms to and abuts against the channel l4 and the side 3! abuts against the inner face of the frame surface 2, where it is held in position by a plurality of screws, for example, the screw 32, passing through the hole 33 in the frame surface 2 and engaging a threaded receiver. The balance tape 21 extends downwardly behind the face strip 28 and between it and the sash guide 29. This face strip 28 and sash guide 29 extend upardly to the bottom 23 of the balance 20, which rests thereon. If desired, the face strip 28 may be continued upwardly, supporting and concealing the end side 35 of the balance 29 by removing a sufiicient portion of the guide 29 at 36 as shown in Figure 2 to accommodate the said balance 20. I prefer to conceal and further support the balance in position by using the angular cover plate 3'1 surfaces 6 and 5, respectively, and engaging threaded receivers. By use of this cover plate 31, the balance is wholly concealed, and is readily accessible for replacement or repair without removing the face strip 28 and sash guide 29. It is also apparent that the balance 20 1s contained, in part, in the recess I9, behind the glass It in the fixed upper sash and wholly within the perimeter of the window frame I and directly above the lower sash. While I have particularly described the invention in relation to the right upper hand balance application, it is obvious that similar application may be used in installing the upper left hand balance.

Also, while I have described in detail above the 3 application of the balance just below the upper frame surface I, my invention may be used in installing the balances in-simi1ar positions in the upper-sash below-the position described in,

detail in, orderto shorten the len th of thebalance tape. For example, in windows having the greater part thereof in the form of a fixed upper sash with a movable lower sash of lesser height, I have found it to be an advantage-toinstall the balance by means oftmrinventio iz; within the frame as described atza'distanceabove and substantially equal to the height: of the-mQv-.- able lower sash, thereby permitting a full vent opening upon raising the movable sash and'reducing the length of the balance tape required to suspend-said sash.

Changes maybemade in the form; construc' tion' and arrangement of *the parts without rde parting from the spirit of the-invention or sac; rificingeany of: its advantages,.- and-=the right is herebyereserved to make all such changes. as

fairly fall within the scope of the followingclaims.

I claim as my'invention:

l. A sprin balance application inawindow: frame having a' fixed upper sash and 'a vertically movable sash therebelow; comprising a formed main frame with vertical and horizontal members;- a vertically movable lower sash; vertical slde'members of: said main frame having a recess formed in each member thereof within the perimeter of said frame laterally of said fixed sash, be-

lowthe-upper horizontal frame member and above themovable lower sash; a spring balance removably positioned in each recess abutting against the adjacent surfaces of said frame and resting uponsaidframe at the lower end of said recess; a balance tape'depending from eachbalance laterally of said fixed sash and attached to said lower sash; and means removably secured to said-main frame for retaining said balances in position.

2; A spring balance-application in a window having a'fixed'uppersash and avertically slidable sash'therebelow; comprising a formed main frame with horizontal and vertical-members; a lowersashverticall-y slidable within said main frame; vertical side membersof said main-frame;

having-a; recess within the perimeter of each member thereof-laterally of said f xed sash, be-

lowthe upper horizontal frame member I and abovesaid slidablelower sash; a spring" balance; removably positioned in'each of said recesses and;

supported therein by close contact with the adja: cent surfaces-of said frame with-itsbalance-tape orifice directly over i the said lower sash and j a balance tape depending from each balance ;later allyof -said fixed-sashand attached-to said lower sash;

3. A window construction having afixed upper-sash and vertically slidable lower sash coinpr ing a for-med main frame with horizontaland 1 vertical members; a vertically slidablelowersash} vertical side membersof'said main frame haying recesses in each member thereof adjacent to andextendingbehindtheframe surfaces thereof supporting the glass in the fixedupper sash, below the upper horizontal frame member and above said slidable lower-sash, adapted to-receive and support a springbalance in each of said recesses; .aspring balancepositioned in each -=recess abuttingzagainsttheadjacent frame surfaces and resting: upon .the frame surface comprising the bottom of said recess; a, balance tape depending from; each;balanceizlaterallybf said fixed sash 4 and attached to said lower sash; and means detachably fastened to said vertical members for concealing said balance tapes and supporting said a an es n i ting o ac ng ,stri s cq t said balances.

4. A window construction having a fixed upper-sash and vertically-slidable lower sash comprising a formed main frame with horizontal and vertical members; a vertically slidable lower sash;

- verticaljside membersof said main frame having recesses-in: each member thereof adjacent to and extending behind the frame surfaces thereof supporting the glass in the fixed upper sash, below the upper horizontal frame member and above said slidable lower sash, adapted to receive and support aspring-balancein each of said recesses; a spring balance disposed each recess abutting-against the" adjacent frame-surfaces and resting upon the frame surface; comprising :the

bottombf said recess; abalance tape-depending from'each' balance laterally of said fixed sash and attached. to said 'lowersash; means detachably'fastenedto said vertical members forconcealing said-balance tapes and-supportin said-= balances consisting of facingstrips contacting said balances; and means detachably fastened-to said frame for concealing and furthersupporting said balances --consisting of acover'plate-abutting against each balance;

5. A method of balance application in a windowframe having a fixed upper sash and vertically slidable lowersash comprising forminga recess in each of the vertical side members --ofs'aid angularly formed main window"frameabovethevertically slidable lower sash and adjacent to said lower sash track;in-said -frame, positioning a spring-balance in each of said recesses in close contact with theadjacent surfaces of said frame with the tape orifices directly above the; said lower sash with which the balance tapes are con;

nected, and supporting and concealing s aid" bal ances with-abutting angular cover plate detachablyfastened-to said frame.

6. Amethodof balance application in'a window frame having-afixed upper; sash and vertically slidable lower sash comprising the removal ofa portion of an inner wall of eachv of thevertical' side members of said angularly iformed main window frame abovethe vertically slidable lower sash and adjacent to said lowersash Jtr a 'ckiin d me or n I a r s ea h. member adapted to-receive-andsupport a spring sash bal: ance by close contact between adjacent surfaces directly a o h w r s sh an liw illri fifi a the --perimeter-' of thesaid main frame, EPP: ,KEIS

BE ELE NQES ITED;

The following rence a e ii lfiQfliiil-ci ikflis;

file of this patent;

UNI-TED'STAf-IES PAI-IENYLIII'SL 

